The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1887-08-13

ed what was the Christians duty,
then, in regard TO the temperance
question and they did according
TO the teaching of the bible, how
comes it that their duty is differ
ent to. day from what it was them?
have always been taught that
christian duty is the same yestcr-
day. to-day, forever, while drum
kenness is denounced in the Bible
as great, and damnable sin
nowhere does it teach us that we
shall neither make, vend, nor use
as Il beverage Intoxicating liquors,
because of this sin. You will find
in the Koran of Mahomet plenty of
authority for prohibition for 1T
dcnouuces wine as curse, says
It's sinfullness is greater than its
use, and that God has prohibited
all wine. Therefore Mahometans
can vote for prohibition with u
clear conscience, but | doubt that
any christian can do so, who un-
derstands his duty as it IS laid
down in the Bible.
Prohibltionists claim that pro-
hibtion IS u moral question. If
SO what business has it at the
ballot box? | never could get into
my head how a moral question is
to be decided correctly at the bal
lot box whore every element of
society the good, the bad and the
Indifferent, are called upon to
participate in its decision. If TO
be dcciacd in this way is it not us
liable to be decided enormously
as correctly? When in the
course of the events of enlightcn"
ed humanity did men ever appeal
to the ballot box for decision OF
a moral question or question OF
morals? You say it is moral
question and we propose to leave
il for decision to the ballot box.
You say the majority decides a
question at the ballot box, and il
the decision is that it is sinful, and
immoral TO make, vend or use, as
a beverage, intoxicating liquors,
thea | ought to obey, must and
shall obey this decision. Well
say if moral questions are TO be
decided at the ballot box, and the
decision Of the majority is that il
is not sinful, aud immoral to make
yend, or use, as beverage, in.
toxicating liquors, you ought tc
obey. Suppose you, Bishor
Galloway, and all the apostles Of
prohibition from the greatest tC
the least would not be willing [,
o0ey, and the majority were tC
) undertake to enforce you
obedience by pouring whisky
down your throats, what woulc
J you do and sav?
You would get the Bible an,
| show the majority that God ha
: given every man the liberty t
5 choose for himself what his mora
T conduct shall be. You woulc
] show them that such was al
invasion of your inherent rights
You would show them Christianity
9 teaches the sclf-sovereignity 0
Q man or nothing. You woul,
, quote Paul as saying "let no ma
g therefore judge you in meat or il
e drink" /" If prohibition is a mora
(, question to be decided at the bal
I, lot box then have the same righ
5 to say you shall make yend, 0
, use inoxecating liquors, and eve
b get drunk as you have to say
shall not do these things.
G Prohibition is a moral question
. does not belong to the ballot box
5 but to the pulpit, the school room
a aud ths family altar. Horati
: Seymour one of our great states
0 men, and lights of the Democrat
c party said in a message vetoein
: prohibitory legislation Will
r governor Of New York ",Judiciou
/. legislation may correct abuses ]
3, the manufacture, sale, and use 0
c intoxicating liquors; it can do n
: more. All experience shows tina
: temperance like other virtues
i not produced by law makers bu
: by the influence Of cducatio
c morality, and relig on.
= ! learn from the article of th
= Rev. DR.. Summers q portion q
f which has already been quote
IS that among the ancients iheI
n were a people called the .I1sscn6
Il or Manichees and other Encratil
i communities of heretics. The
!, proclaimed abstinence from MAJ
t, riage on the ground that it was n
|. better than corruption and form
o cation" They prohibited win
+, and also animal food for ascetl'
il and superstItious reasons, and b
y such prohibitions they cast